Animal-trap.



' J. JACKSON."

ANIMAL TRAP. AIPLIOATION rum) 1145,1910.

1,000,007, Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

- closing. catch the animal high on the leg,'.

. hercinat'ten specified? l igure 1 1's a perspective trap tslaown settaknd i embodyi 11 g the JACOB JACKSON, 0E GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, JACOB J .icnson, a cit-izen of: the United States, residing at Green Bay, in the county of Brown and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful.

Improvements in Animal-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

I This invention relates to animal traps, and the objects of the same are to provide a trap of light, strong and durable construction of about one-half the dimensions of the usual traps; to provide a trap that will, when thusprcvcnting it from twisting off its leg; to provide a trap that can be readily jerked about and not. apt. to twistofi the leg of the trapped animal nor liable to become tangled in weeds or brush ,g'and to provide a trap of such reduced diinensionsthat it can be readily concealed in small holes and narrow runways. and more easily packed and transported.

.The trap proper consists of two resilient parts, each of which has one end apertured to loosely receive the other end, the ends of the parts passing through the apertures being slightly reduced. In each part the tension is such that the slightly reduced end or extremity tends to pass as i'ar'as possible through the apcrti'ire. lVhcn, therefore, the parts are pivoted, tlie; trap being in setposition, the tension acts to separate one edge of the broad. ends and in consequence raises the jaws. position that the continued tension of the parts, together with the. restricted relative position of the a u-rturcs and: the pivoted relutionof the tapered cnds, brings the. jaws forcibly together and holds tl1einthcrc.-

The traptfurthcr consists of a pan which the'jaws, the scctionsot' the pan projecting upwardly on opposite sides oi the leg of the trapped animal whenthejaws are closed so as to prevent the animal from chewing ott' its leg. under? the aws by covering emmgh (ifthe10g.l'QfPL'UVOHl'-ll\t\ animal troin reaching 7 ti to same.

The i \cntiou still fu rthrr consists int-he detail. whi-onstruction and arrangement of the. \"fil'till -lllt'tl'i'S"Wli-ltllwill be more fully Initliecd ruwin view of ar featnre'srof the-invention;- Fig. 2 isza longi-v Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 15, 1910.

This brings the parts to such a Patented Aug. 8 1911.

Serial No. 549,448.

tudinal section through the center of the trap as shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the trap shown open. 'Fi 4 is a transverse vertical section througl the open trap. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the trap in closed condition. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the trap shown closed and illustrating the operation of thetrap in its upward movement when released. F 7 and 8 are'respectively detail sectional perspective and cross-sectional views illustrating a slight- Inodification of the trigger mechanism.

The numerals 5 and 6 designate the jaws which are bowed and continuous with base members 7 and 8 respectively; the base members terminating in upturned or deflected ends 9 and 10 each having a slot 11 formed therein. The jaws'5 and 6 are reduced as -at 12 and individually passed through and freely movable in the slots 11,

the ends of the jaws being overlapped as at 13 and pivotally connected by the shank of an eye 14. The jaws 5 and 6 and the base members 7 and 8 which are continuous or integrally formed therewith, are constructed of suitable spring metal, preferably thin steel and the reduced extremities 12 of the jaws have'a considerable projection through and beyond the deflected ends 9 and 10 of the base member, and when the jaws are opened they are gradually drawn through the deflected ends 9 and 10 of the base members and at the same time the latter are overturnml with the jaws until they assume the position particularly shown byv Fig. 1

and at which time the jaws are fully open.

lo the eye ll a. securing chain or analogous device 15 is attached and may be of any suitable length, said chain, as will be readily understood, being fixed to some stationary object when the trap is'in use toprevent a trapped animal from dragging the trap away from the location where it has been set in operative position. To insure a regular movement of the reduced extremities 12 of the jaws 5 and 6 through the openings 1''. each opening has an outer depending P iar'd' 1 6 which prevents lateral movement r the said extremities, andthetwo guards also serve as guides for" the extremities. .The upwardly directe'dendsQ and-"10 of the base members 7 and" 8 are disposed inflaring position relatively to each other when the jaws 5 and 6 ar'efiopened or set to aVoid'ob struction by theeye 14 whenthe said ends are moving outwardly through the opening.-

1'1 in setting'the trap. as illustrated b the jaws 5 and and the corresponding movements of the base members 7 and 8. The forward tnbnla r connecting member 1H has ears 19 forming a part thereot or projecting theretron'i for a purpo e whieh will be presently ex 'ilained. The base member 7 in the edge portion thereof opposite, that having the slots 17 therein and n'ar the front; of the trap has a slot 20 eat therethrough to receive an apertured loclcing tongue 21 carried by the base member when both of the base members 7 and 8 are turned to set the jaws in open position, as shown j'Jarticulariv by Figs. 1 and "'2.

The pan or releasing means' of this im proved t'ap ditl'ers essentially from pan as ordinarily constructed, and eom 'n'ises a supporting pintle or stem having its forward extren'iitv llattencd as at 23 and pivotallv disposed and held between the ears 1.) of the forward tubular eorm -ting member18.thesaid flattened portion of the stem being continued trom the ears til and formed 'with a slot 2-4 in which is loosely hung a latch or trigger 23. the -t'ree end of the latter being redu ed to engage the ap ertured tongue 21. ()n [he pintle or stem pan sections in arc movably mounted.

each pan scetion having a stop flange projecting from its inner portion. the.

flan es 2,? being bent at approximately right ang es to the pan sections 26 and adapted to bear against the outer sides of the base members 7 and 8 when the aws are open to prevent depression of the p'an sections beyond a predetermined point and tlltl'trb) hold said sections in operatire position. The said flanges 27 also bear against the inner or upperniost sides of tfhe base members Tand 8 when t h,'ti,'ap has been sprung to hold the pan sr on 1 lisposed in upright position (fret-11 considerable portion of the leg and tootfo'f the trapped animal, the pan sections serving the dual function'ot means for rev leasing the trap and. as means for covering a portion of the leg-of the. trapped animal when tl trap has been sprung andthc jaws grip th ileg ol an anin'ial, as elea1'ly"sl|ownllji Figf 3, The pan sections it; are impertorateamd extend Far enough upwardly over the leg of thcflrappml animal to. obstruct the. animal in gnawing of? or releas- "(the leg bv sev'e'ri'i'igdlie same. as is often the custom ot a tra. ied'a'nin'ial.

,\'or1'r |all the'ja'ws a nd (3 and base memla'trs 7 and HoeIctIpy tlief 'iosi'tiol shown by Fig. 3 or are disposed edge to edge in close relation antl the aws extend In regular curred lines over the base members. In opening or setting the trap the'jaws are spread apart b pressing downwardlv on the upturned ends t) and ltl ot the base men'ibers. the pressure on the said ends being continued until both the jaws and base men'ibers stand m'lgewise with relation-to the surface on which the trap is disposed. \\'hen the jaws have been tully opened the pan sections 26 gravitate ,and oeeupy the ])o sition shown by Figs. 1, 2. 3 and 4 and the perforate tongue 21'is projected through the slot, 20. lhc jaws are then locked. or set by slightly tilting the forward flattened ex tremity. 25-3 of the pintle or stem down- \vardlv. thus raising the pan sections and. lowering the trigger or cateh 25 whieh engages or is caused to engage the perforation ol the tongue-2]. 'hcn the trap is thus set it may be covered by leaves. grass or other light substitute. and may-"be disposed in a hole in the ground. a slight depression or in an animal runway. .'lhc animal in stepping upon the trap engages the pan sections. either one or both. and depresses the pintle or stem thereby releasing the catch or trigger 25 and causing the jaws and (3 to l'omctully close over the leg. 'hen the jaws are released they catch the. animal high up on the leg owing to the assemblage of the extremities 12 with the ends 9 and 1.0 as hereinlietorc explained and catch the leg of the animal at an elevated point or high up on leg with material advantagesin seenrij ig the trapped leg Willi such force as to resist working loose of the the jaws by the.

ellinrts of the animal to release himself. As

hr: inhetore noted, the pan. sections 2(3 autoinatiraltv close, over the foot; and a considerable portion of the trapped leg and prevent the animal from gnawingthrough or? re:u-hing the leg to sever the same.

it will be observed that the trap as a whole has a springing action and the. jaws have a lateral or sidewise resilient action imparted thereto when the said jaws-are; re.- leased in view of the continuous.tormation f the. jaws with the, base members and the niovable association of the'jaws through the medium of the extremities 12 with the-ends t) and 10 of the lame. members.

In the mnstruction of trap just explained there isa possibility ot' the pintle. or stem 22 and member [8 turning to the left. by the animal treading only on the. left. pair section 26, and as a consequence the. trigger 25 would be pressed down mov bositivcly into engagement with the slotted tongue 21 and the. trap would not he released or sprung. "lo obviate this possibility the construction shown by Figs. 7 and 8 has been dc-\'is ed. In this latter construction the. connccting member l8 is" i'ovided with a for-- wardlv projecting angular stop lug'28 and thc 't'o-ra'ard end of the pintle or stem 22 -base and its aw formed with an angular termiiial 2 9 having a depending shoulder 30. Ihthis construc tion, the trigger 31 is movably connected to the base member 8 :Ind angularly bent for movement through a slot 32 in the base member 7 and upwardly over the latter. The free end of the trigger in this instance caused to en age the lower edge of the terminal 29 witliin the shoulder 30 and also the under edge of the lug 28, as clearly shown by Fig. 7, and if the left section 26 ofthe'pan only receives the pressure of the animals toot, .thetri ger will be uniformly pressed downwardly. y the lag and terminal 29 the direction of release and'instantly become disengaged-from the lug and terminal and the'tra'p jaws will close against the leg of the animal.

.It is proposed to tin or'otherwise plate the parts of the trap to hide the odor of iron and defeat the scentof the "annual. The parts of the trap will also bemade heavyenough to adapt it for trapping "arious kinds of animals HllCl'jlt is prpposed to vary the proportions and dimensions of the same as well as the minor details within the scope of the invention. The parts of the trap are very easily assembled and are so secured as to render the same strong and durable.

W'hat is claimed is:

1. In a trap of the class specified, the combination of spring bases and jaws con tinuous with each other, the jaws and bases being hinged to each other, the spring ten sion of the jaws and bases moving the bases with the jaws in opening and closing opera- .tions, and means 'for holding the jaws set and for releasingthe same.

2, A trap of the class descrlbed provided with a. pair of spring bases and jaws, each being of continuous con structlon and independent-of each other,

means forloosely conneetin the bases'of the jaws and the terminalsof the latter, and means for setting and releasing the jaws and the bases. 3 7

3. In a trap of the 'class specified, a pair of resilient jaws'and basemembers C(Hlt lllll" ous with each other and forming the spring means for the trap, )ortions of the base members bein I movab y connected, the extremities of tie jaws being connected together and freely movable through extremities of the base membcrs, and means for set ting and releasing the jaws and base memhers,

4. A device of-the class specified having. a

combined spring bases, jawscontinuous wit for movably connectthe bases-at intermediate points and the n en s of the jaws, the trap having anupward movement imparted thereto when the jaws arereleased and perform a closing movement, and means for setting and releasing the j aws and bases.

5 A trap of the class specified having structed of spring material and constitutin the spring means for the trap, the ends 0 the jaws being movably connected, the bases having a rising movement imparted thereto durin the closing movement of the jaws.

6. i trap having opening and closing- -continuous bases and .jaws movably conwith and serving as the. prime operating nected, means for setting and releasing the jaws and bases and automatically operating means closed-by the corresponding moveme'nt'ofthe jaws to partially cover the leg of an animal caught between saidjaws.

8. A trap comprising two spring elements tinuouswit h each other and. having one setof termmals'connected andmovable through 5 ring elements having lateral opening and leasing the said elements.

'9. The combination of two sprin elements having base members and bowe portions continuous therewith and constituting the jaws and movably extending throug the terminals of the said base members, the I jaws having lateral opening andcl'osin' v; iovemen'ts, means members setand for releasing the same, and means forloosely connecting and hingingthe base niembers and .ja'ws, the, said ring elements having tli owing to the relative arereon which,

to move the spring bases and jaws and exert a tension on the latter. a In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing vitnesses.

JACOB JACKSON.

Witnessesi C. W. LOMAB,

FERN E. BUTIER, l

opening and closing jaws and bases conmeans to close the-jaws when the latter are released, the said bases being movably conthe remaining set of terminals, the said c osing movements and exerting a tensionon the aws, and means for setting and re-..

rangement of the parts, will havea tendency spring jaws; and automatically operating opening and closing bases continuous th'ereconstituting jaws and base members eonfor holding the jaws an a i a tension exerted 

